India is considering releasing some wheat into the open market as production is expected to touch a record high of 78 million tonnes in 2008, the farm minister said on Monday. Sharad Pawar's forecast for production is slightly higher than an earlier estimate of 77 million tonnes by government officials and traders.
"Production has been the highest since independence, and after fulfilling the requirement of the public distribution system, we are considering releasing wheat in the open market," Pawar told reporters. India provides foodgrains to the poor under the public distribution system and buys grain from local farmers to meet the demand.